La Majid Foundation of Ascona hosts up to October 31, 2026 the exhibition The Diva Collection, new artistic project by the Swiss master Boris DondéThe exhibition offers a journey through his personal interpretation of Neo-Pop Art, developed through a language that intertwines famous figures from international culture with references to the tradition of Italian mosaics.
Spread over approximately 500 square meters Spread over three levels, the exhibition offers the public the opportunity to discover one of the most recent productions of the Swiss artist, in an installation supervised by the Foundation's Project Manager, Massimo Basile, who coordinated the planning and communication aspects of the initiative.
The origins of the artistic path
Boris Dondé's interest in art is rooted in his family's history, characterized by a strong creative vocation. Over the years, this passion has transformed into a personal pursuit that has allowed him to build a style that is recognizable and appreciated even beyond Switzerland's borders.
After the training period at New York Academy, the artist began exhibiting in several international cities, including Monte Carlo, Tokyo and Dubai, consolidating a career that has led him to be considered one of the most original interpreters of contemporary Neo Pop Art.
A dialogue between Pop Art and mosaic
With The Diva CollectionDondé develops a series of works inspired by the Italian mosaic tradition, with a particular reference to Sicilian techniques. The result is a collection of compositions characterized by intense colors, intricate details, and surfaces that recall the effect of mosaic tiles.
A recurring element in the collection is the sun, used as a symbol of energy and vitality, while the language of Pop Art blends with decorative references belonging to the Mediterranean artistic tradition.
The goal is not to faithfully reproduce past models, but to reinterpret them through a contemporary sensibility, creating a comparison between artistic memory and new forms of expression.
The great female figures at the centre of the collection
The exhibition features some of the most celebrated female figures of the twentieth century, transformed by Dondé into the subjects of a personal visual narrative.
Among the works there are portraits dedicated to Marilyn Monroe, Audrey Hepburn, Brigitte Bardot, Frida Kahlo e Grace Kelly, figures who have left a mark on the history of cinema, art and popular culture.
Through these images, the artist constructs a dialogue between different eras, in which the myth is reinterpreted beyond mere quotation. The protagonists thus become part of a new aesthetic dimension, capable of combining elegance, color, and artistic research.
A personal and recognizable Pop Art
Boris Dondé's work is distinguished by a constant cross-pollination of artistic languages. His works combine references to mass culture, echoes of academic painting, influences from the 1980s, and a contemporary taste that avoids the simple reproduction of well-known images.
The figures are transformed through a process of reinterpretation that aims to enhance their symbolic meaning. The popular image thus becomes a tool for reflecting on collective memory and the way certain faces continue to occupy a central role in the contemporary imagination.
According to this vision, Pop Art takes on a dimension that goes beyond nostalgic reference and presents itself as a constantly evolving language, capable of maintaining its connection with the past without renouncing experimentation.
An exhibition open until the end of October
The exhibition represents one of the main artistic events hosted by the Majid Foundation during 2026. The three floors dedicated to the works allow visitors to follow the evolution of the project. The Diva Collection through a journey that highlights the different facets of Boris Dondé's research.
The exhibition will remain open until October 31, 2026, offering contemporary art enthusiasts and visitors to Ticino the opportunity to delve deeper into the work of an artist who has built his own language by fusing international influences, pop culture, and the Italian mosaic tradition.
